One of the most well-respected and generous SUNY Canton faculty members in College history has passed away.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus and longstanding Foundation Board Member Richard W. Miller died earlier this morning (Friday, January 6, 2012) at his West Main Street home in Canton. He was 93 years old.

“Dick’s passing saddens me greatly,” said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “In addition to being one of the most respected individuals at the College, he and his wife Irene were personal friends of my family. I’m certain many would join me in saying that their lives have been enriched through his friendship and ongoing dedication to the College and greater Canton Community.”

Mr. Miller began teaching at SUNY Canton (then known as the Agricultural and Technical Institute) on June 7, 1946. He was a professor and Department Chairman of the Electrical Engineering Technology Department. In 1975, he was named an Outstanding Educator in America and the year following he won the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 1982, he received the SUNY Canton College Council’s Distinguished Faculty Award, and in 1990 the Council presented him with the Distinguished Citizen Award. He organized the SUNY Canton chapter of Tau Alpha Pi National Honor Society for Engineering Technology and was an esteemed advisor to the Alpha chapter of the Theta Gamma Fraternity. He retired in 1983.

“Dick was one of the most influential faculty members to ever teach at SUNY Canton,” Kennedy said. “He assisted countless generations of successful graduates during his career. After he retired, he created scholarships to benefit incoming students. His legacy will live on across the campus.”

In 2003, Mr. Miller became the first donor in College history to make a million dollar donation to the SUNY Canton Foundation. His unrestricted donation led the college to name the then newly constructed campus center in his honor.

“I have had three loves of my life: The first, my wife Irene; the second, my family; and the third, this College,” Mr. Miller said at the Richard W. Miller Campus Center Dedication and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.

He followed his donation with an additional $50,000 gift to the College in honor of his longstanding friendship with the Kennedys in 2010. Combined with his annual scholarship, Mr. Miller donated more than $1.6 million to SUNY Canton.

“Mr. Miller’s profound impact on SUNY Canton can be seen from anywhere on campus,” said Director of Alumni and Development Peggy S. Levato. “His generosity allowed us to make immeasurable progress at the College. He gave his time and heart to this college and for that, we will forever be indebted to him.”

Many alumni and current students knew Mr. Miller through his frequent involvement in campus following his retirement. In the past year he was a guest of honor at the College’s Kingston Fireplace Dedication, Holiday Luncheon, Scholarship Luncheon, and Alumni Weekend Celebration, among others. He attended his 65th consecutive commencement ceremony in 2011.

Update (Monday, Jan 9): Calling hours are 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, January 12, at Lawrence Funeral Home, 21 Park St., Canton, with a service at 10:30 a.m. Friday, January 13 at the First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St., and a reception to follow at the Richard W. Miller Campus Center at SUNY Canton. A Masonic service will be held on Thursday 5:45 p.m. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Richard’s name to the Canton Neighborhood Center, 5 West St., Canton Methodist Church Food Kitchen, or the Richard W. Miller Scholarship at SUNY Canton. Condolences may be sent to www.lawrencefuneralhome.org.

A complete obituary submitted my Mr. Miller’s family can be viewed at http://www.canton.edu/news/index.php/miller-obituary/

Please use the comments section below to share your memories and reflections.

“Yesterday, SUNY Canton lost a great friend. Today, on behalf of the entire College Council, we mourn Dick’s passing and celebrate his life. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and many friends.”

“Dick was truly one of a kind. His contributions to SUNY Canton and the community cannot be measured in mere dollars. Teacher, mentor, friend, supporter, Dick was all these and much more. For more than six decades, Dick gave of his time, energy and money to ensuring SUNY Canton would continue to grow and flourish.”

“His dedication and fierce loyalty set a shining example for our campus and the greater North Country. While we will miss his presence at events, and his wise counsel and wit, we know that his legacy at SUNY Canton is enduring, which is just the way he planned it.”

A committed benefactor recently made his second major donation to the SUNY Canton Foundation.

Pictured are SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy, Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard W. Miller, and Dine Kennedy. Miller recently made a second major donation to the SUNY Canton Foundation.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus Richard W. Miller has given $50,000 in honor of his relationship with the College and SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy and his wife Dine Kennedy. The retired electrical engineering technology professor had already donated $1 million in 2003.

“We truly cannot thank Mr. Miller enough,” Kennedy said. “The time he spent as a faculty member, the students he helped educate, and the careers he helped launch are remarkable. His donations are made from the heart and we greatly appreciate his enthusiasm and loyalty to the College and its students. Dick is the living embodiment of the phrase ‘a lifetime of dedication.’ His love of all things SUNY Canton is truly evident through his lifetime of commitment.”

In 2003, the College named its then newest building the Richard W. Miller Campus Center in honor of his first donation. At the time, it was the College’s first million-dollar donation. Centennial Campaign Co-Chairs Ronald M. (class of 1959) and Blanche K. Woodcock (honorary alumna 2003) noted Miller’s donation inspired other donations from alumni and community members alike, and helped fuel the success of the recently concluded capital campaign.

Miller explained previously that the College is the third greatest love of his life, following after his wife Irene, who passed away in 2002, and his family. He has hopes that this most recent donation will serve as a call to action for alumni and friends of the College to continue their support.

“I’m proud that SUNY Canton has remained a part of my life after my retirement and that I’ve had a chance to cultivate a strong relationship with Dr. Kennedy and his wife Dine,” Miller said. “In addition to driving the growth of the College that I hold so dear, they’ve been caring and kind. I’m proud to call them my friends.”

Miller has been involved with SUNY Canton for more than half of the College’s existence. In 1976, he received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, in recognition of his ability to help students attain academic excellence, his mastery of teaching techniques, and his record of scholarship in his field. The prior year, he was named an Outstanding Educator in America. In 1982, he received the SUNY Canton College Council’s Distinguished Faculty Award. Miller is an esteemed advisor to the Alpha chapter of the Theta Gamma Fraternity, a post he has held since 1948. He remains an active member of the SUNY Canton Foundation Board of Directors and the Alumni Association Board of Directors.

“Dick and his wife Irene were among the first people to welcome our family to Canton,” said Dine Kennedy. “I recall so many wonderful evenings the four of us have spent together. I know that Dick’s gift is profoundly personal. He has deeply touched the emotions of the College community and Foundation members.”

Miller, who earned his bachelor’s of science from SUNY Oswego and his master’s of education from St. Lawrence University, worked at General Electric in Schenectady before coming to Canton in 1946.

“It is inspirational and emotional for the SUNY Canton Foundation to accept Mr. Miller’s gift to the College and Dr. Kennedy,” said Director of Alumni Relations Peggy S. Levato. “He is such a close member of our SUNY Canton family, and he recognizes that giving now is more important than ever before due to the economy. His legacy here will live forever.”

Ronald & Blanche Woodcock pose in front of the newest addition to the Roselle Academic Plaza: The Woodcock Centennial Clock.

The largest and most comprehensive fundraising campaign in SUNY Canton’s 100-year history was successfully concluded at the recent Scholarship Luncheon celebration.

“We’ve reached a high-water mark in the history of the College,” said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “Every donation from $2 to $2 million has helped us reach this point and has made a difference in the lives of our students.”

The SUNY Canton Centennial Campaign was launched in 2003 with the goal of raising $10 million by 2010. Campaign Co-Chairs Ronald L. (class of ’59) and Blanche K. (honorary alumna, class of ‘06) Woodcock announced the campaign’s ended after raising a grand total of just over $11.3 million. The College’s previous campaign raised about $1 million.

“Much of our fundraising efforts will be used for scholarships,” Ronald said. “When people give to SUNY Canton, they give to help students get the best education possible in order to start a career. Education is a worthy investment because it supports students and their families while benefitting the North Country as a whole.”

Ronald Woodcock received a scholarship in 1957 while he was enrolled in the College’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning program, which has since become the Air Conditioning Engineering Technology program. Recognizing the importance of scholarships, and seeing the benefit to the students at the Scholarship Luncheon, he and his wife endowed their own scholarship to help students in the engineering technology fields. Their leadership and generosity have led the College to name the Alumni House and a wing of conference suites in their honor.

“We had a series of key donations that helped us reach our goal ahead of schedule,” Blanche noted. “The $1 million donation made by Professor Emeritus Richard W. Miller, and the two donations totaling $3 million from Ronald’s classmate Joel Canino (class of ’59) really set the campaign in motion.”

The late Professor Emeritus Herman W. Kalberer also helped the campaign’s early momentum with an $803,000 estate gift. The College’s Foundation also received substantial gifts, each of about $1 million, from the estate of the late Alumna Elaine Claxton Pidgeon (class of ’39), and from an anonymous donor.

“The SUNY Canton Foundation helps ensure that each donor’s life and legacy is remembered and cherished for all times,” Blanche said. “In a very real way, our deceased benefactors will live forever through our memories and their scholarships.”

Bernard Creighton Regan (class of ‘65) donated the funding to create a flag station at the college’s entrance on State Route 68, in addition to financing four scholarships for students from Massena Central High School. John L. Halford (class of ’49) and his wife Nelta, provide similar scholarships for college students from Governeur.

The six-year fundraising project was punctuated by several influential College events that brought sponsors and donors in touch with the college. “With the help of Marti King MacArthur (class of ’74 and ’78), the Centennial Gala and Auction raised more than $40,000,” Blanche recalled.

Ron said, “Another highlight was Dr. Michael and Barbara Maresca’s challenge to raise more $100,000 for SUNY Canton Nursing students. He matched the total donations, creating more opportunities for students to enter into the high-demand field of nursing.”

In honor of the Woodcock’s dedication to SUNY Canton and their inspirational leadership during the Centennial Campaign, the College’s Alumni and Foundation Boards of Directors procured a decorative courtyard clock to adorn Roselle Academic Plaza. As a surprise, the Woodcocks were asked to unveil the clock and a ceremonial plaque denoting their continued commitment to SUNY Canton.

While the majority of the donations from the campaign will be used to broaden student access to a SUNY Canton Education, a small portion of the endowment will be used for campus beautification projects and faculty and staff development awards.

“We want to thank all of the donors to the SUNY Canton Centennial Campaign,” said Vice President for Advancement David M. Gerlach. “Whether their gifts were large or small, each individual has helped make a difference in the lives of our students.”

The College Foundation awarded almost $420,000 in scholarships, and will be awarding almost $45,000 in faculty, staff, and enhancement awards this year.

SUNY Canton offers a wide variety of career-driven bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs. Most of SUNY Canton’s new four-year programs are designed so students can take them on-campus, online, or both. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 100 courses online each semester. The College’s athletic teams belong to the NAIA’s Sunrise Conference, enabling students to compete in their respective sports for four years. Construction is now underway for the College’s new Convocation, Athletic, and Recreation Center.